Strip serving machine



Nov. 14, 1944.

T. H. KRUEGR lNvENToR THe-omet- Mlm/fare ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 14,1944 s'rnn SERVING MACHINE RISSUED Theodore H. Krueger, Stratford,Conn., assigner to Better Packages Incorporated, a corporation of NewYork Application August 8, 1942, Serial No. 454,153

17 Claims. (Cl. 164-845) This invention relates to an improved apparatus`for serving measured lengths of strips or tape which are covered orimpregnated on one side` thereof with a pressure sensitive adhesiveusually tacky or non-drying either permanently or during the period ofuse. The invention has particular utility in the various fields of useto which pressure sensitive adhesive tape is applied and I especially isuseful where the tape is required in short lengths such as fractionalparts of a foot. It eliminates the tedious nuisance and waste involvedin cutting inaccurate lengths with ordinary scissors and provides asimple and easy operating mechanism for speedily stripping from theroll, measuring, cutting and delivering at a point ready for use, thedesired length oftape.

The. improved apparatus contemplates mechanical means for stripping thematerial or tape from the roll in predetermined lengths and comprisesgenerally a compact serving apparatus particularly designed to becarried in the pocket of the user and when in use, to be held in onehand of the user while tape is being drawn by the other hand from thedevice. In general the mechanism includes a fixed mounting for a roll oftape and a pivotally mounted measuring element adapted to engage thenon-tacky or untreated surface of the tape, to be grasped simultaneouslywith the leading end of the tape, and to be moved about its pivot in adirection away from the roll to draw tape from the roll 4for apredetermined udistance whereby a predetermined length oftape is drawnfrom the roll. Means are provided for releasing the pivoted element atthe end of its arc of movement and for returning it to its originalposition as well as means for severing the tape which means may beassociated with the element. Also are provided means for `varying thearc of movement of the element about its pivot so that the length oftape delivered may be varied.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pocket size deliveryapparatus for tacky tape particularly adapted for speedy and convenientserving of small strips of relatively narrow tacky material although itwillbe of course understood that while the size of the construction isafeature, the invention is not to be limited to this feature and thedispenser or the principles of the invention involved therein'maysuitably be ap.

plied to the delivery of larger strips of wider web material. Furtherobjects and advantages will appear from the following description andthe drawing in which:

, MAR 191946 one side wall removed showing the tape dev liveryapparatus, the device being shown held in the hand of the user with theother hand of the user in the act of withdrawing a strip of tape;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a further step in theremoval of a strip of tape, and

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 43--3 ofFigure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, the device includes an outside `casing I0which may be of metal, plastic or any other convenient relativelydurable material, such a material as Bakelite having been foundparticularly advantageous. The case I8 is preferably formed of twointer'- locked frame members I2 and I4, each of which has the end towardthe tape delivering portion of the machine open. Interlocking of theside flanges of the frame members at the rear of the device ispreferably accomplished by the flange I6 which keys with the edge of theportion I4. The two case members are held together at the front portionof the machine by the lock post I8. Obviously any other convenient meansdesired may be employed as a covering for the apparatus, it only beingnecessary that suflicient rigidity for mounting of the various parts beprovided.

'I'he portion I4 is provided with the inwardly extending b oss 20 andthe portion I2 is similarly provided with a complementary boss 22 whichhave mounted between them the shaft 24 upon which the roll 26 of stripmaterial 28 may conveniently be mounted. The interior of the casing isalso provided forwardly of the mounting of the'roll 26 withcomplementary bosses 28 and 30 which mount between them the tape guideroller 32. Similarly interiorly mounted bosses 34 and 36 carry pivot 38upon which is pivotally mounted tape delivery element or yoke 40 whichis normally spring pressed by spring 42 into the rearward position shownin Figure 2. As illustrated in Figure 3, the yoke 40 includes sidemembers descending downwardly from the pivot 38 and a base member 42which joins the-side members. The base 42 is preferably apertured as at44 and also extends forwardly of the side members of the yoketerminating in a cutting edge Figure 1 is a side elevation of the devicewith 56 46 which may be serrated to facilitate cutting if desired.

The forward movement of' the yoke 4I) about the pivot 38 is limited by apin 48. Each of the walls I2 and I4 are provided as shown in Figures 2and 3 with toothed apertures 50 which may be cut through the walls asshown. The pin 48 may ever recess it is placed by the spring 52.

fit into the recesses between the teeth in the aperture 50 and will beheld in position in what- It can be seen therefore that the pin 48 maybe placed in any of the four recesses shown and it will be understood ofcourse that any number of recesses may be provided and thus the lengthof travel of the yoke 40' from its rearmost position against the roller32 forwardly, will be determined.

The operation of the device is as follows: 'I-'he length of stripdesired is-rst set by positioning the pin 48. The thumb and forenger arethen inserted into the device on either side of the base member 42 sothat when the thumb and forenger grasp the tape and the yoke, theforenger A contacts the tacky side of the tape and the thumb B contactsthe yoke and the untreatedl or non-tacky side of the tape throughaperture 44. The yoke and the web are now drawn forward to the forwardposition illustratedin Figure 1 until the yoke 40 meets the pin d8 atwhich time the yoke can travel no further. 'Ihe thumb B is nowmomentarily released as illustrated in Figure 2. and the yoke 40 underthe influence of spring 42 moved backward against the guide roll 32, thedrawn portion of the web remaining adhered to the forenger A. The thumbis now placed back against the tape again and the tape drawn down asshown in Figure 2 against the cutting edge 46 where the deliveredportion of tape is easily severed. The apparatus. is now ready fordelivery of a second piece of tape by grasping the portion 42 of theyoke d as heretofore described. l

While I have illustrated and described in detail certain forms of myinvention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the usey of such forms, as I realize that changes within recited in any of thefollowing claims to be understood to refer to all equivalent elements orinstrumentalities for accomplishing substantially the same result insubstantially the same or equivalent manner, it being my purpose tocover my invention broadly in whatever form its principle may beutilized.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing measured strips of tape having a supportfor a supply of the'tape, a pivotally mounted measuring element, a backstop and means to urge said element normally against said back stop,said element being mounted to be grasped simultaneously with the leadingend of the tape whereby tape may be drawn from the roll while advancingsaid element about its pivotal mounting, a. stop limiting the forwardmovement of said` element about its pivot, and means on said element tosever `the thus delivered strip after said element has returned to itsnormai position against the bacli stop.

2. In a device for dispensing tacky tape, a pivoted yoke measuringelement having a tape engaging zone and an aperture in said zone andguide means to direct the leading end of the tape past said zone withthe non-tacky side of tape againstrsaid zone.

3. A pocket strip dispensing apparatus adapted to be held, whenoperated, in the palm of the hand of the operator, said apparatus havingmeans to support a supply of tapega pivoted yoke measuring element,means to direct the leading end of the tape past said yoke and anopening in said device admitting thenger and thumb of the operator tograsp said yoke and said tape simultaneously to draw tape from thesupply.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 having an adjustable stop limiting theextent to which said' yoke may be moved.

5. A device as claimed in yclaim 3 including severing means forming aportion of said'yoke.

6. A-pocket strip dispensing apparatus of a size adapted to be held inthe palm of a hand, said apparatus comprising a `covering frame havingsubstantially parallel walls, a closed and a partially open end, meansin thecasing upon which a supply of tape may be mounted and measuringand severing means adjacent said open end, the opening in said open yendbeing of sufcient size to permit the introduction of at least one ngerof the operator to contact the tape and withdraw the same though theopening. '7.' A pocket strip dispensing apparatus adapted to be operatedwhen held in the palm of the hand of the operator including an outsidecasing having substantially parallel walls, a closed end and a partiallyopen end, means in the casing upon which a supply of tape may bemounted, a yoke member pivotally mounted between said walls adjacentsaid open end, means to direct the leading end of the tape past the endof said yoke member remote from said pivot, means to move the end ofsaid yoke member through a predetermined arc through said opening whiledrawing tape from the supply, said arc terminating, outside of saidframe member, and means on said yoke member remote from said pivotalmounting for severing a withdrawn strip.

8. In a device Vfor dispensing tacky tape, a support for a supply oftape to be fed, a pivoted measuring element having a tape engagingportion and guide means to direct the leading end cf the tape past saidtape engaging portion with the non-tacky side of the tape facing saidportion.

thereon and manually drawn out with the tape to u measure and limit thelength of tape withdrawn, and a severing means movable with said partagainst which the tape may be severed when the tape supporting part isin its position nearest to the tape supply.

10. An apparatus as claimed vin claim 9 in which the severing meansconstitutes the edge of said tape supporting part.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 having spring means for returningthe tape supporting part to its position nearest to a tape supply.

12. A tape dispensing apparatus having means to support a supply oftape, a measuring element comprising a swinging arm carrying a tapesupporting part at the outer end thereof movable towards and from thesupply of tape in the general direction in which the tape is fed, meansfor limiting movement of said element in said direction, said tapesupportingy part being of such dimensions that it may be grasped by thefingers of the hand with the tape supported thereon, and manually drawnout with the tape to measure and element mounted for limited movement ina direction towards and from the supply of tape, said measuring elementhaving a tape supporting surfaceof such size that it may be graspedbetween the fingers together with the end of the tacky tape restingthereon, the edge of said tape supporting surface constituting tapetear-off means, and guide means to direct the leading end of the tapeinto a position adjacent to said tape supporting surface with thenon-tacky side of the tape facing said surface.

14. A device as claimed in claim 13 in which a spring is provided forreturning the measuring element to its position nearest to the source oftape supply.

15. A machine for delivering strips of tacky 'material having a supportfor a supply of material, an apertured reciprocating feed element, meansto guide the leading end of the tape through said element and then intosubstantially( the path of its movement, a knife to sever a deliveredstrip, said knife being mounted to provide a leading end of tapeextending beyond the end of said feed element whereby the finger of theoperator will encounter said leading end.

16. A machine for delivering strips of tacky material including asupport for a supply of the material, a reciprocating feed elementmounted for reciprocal movement in a direction at an angle to the planeof the tape web as it is drawn lfrom the supply, means to place andmaintain the .leading end of the tape adjacent to the feed element inthe directionof'moven'ient of said element and means on the feedelementpermitting simultaneous grasping of the feed element, and the leadingend of the tape.

17. A device for serving strips of tacky material including a supportfor a roll of tape, a reciprocating measuring element mounted forreciprocal movement in the direction of feed of the tape, guide meansfor guiding the leading end of the tape into a position adjacent to atape engaging'surface of the reciprocating measuring element,I said`element being formed to permit it to be grasped together with theleading end of the tape with the iingers of one hand, so that the tapeis pressed against the tape engaging surface of the reciprocatingelement and the tape and element may be simultaneously drawn from themachine by the iingers, and means whereby the measuring element isautomatically returned to p its initial position as soon as released.

